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H.R. 1286 119th Congress House

Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act

Official title: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center for an assessment of for… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center for an assessment of forms that the Secretary sends to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 13, 2025 Introduced by: Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr. Republican · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security Congressional oversightGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsResearch and developmentVeterans' pensions and compensation
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 Everywhere this bill has been 17 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 20, 2025
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
May 19, 2025
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1286.
May 19, 2025
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 386 - 1 (Roll no. 133). (text: CR H2125)
May 19, 2025
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
May 19, 2025
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2136-2137)
May 19, 2025
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
May 19, 2025
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2124-2126)
May 19, 2025
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 17, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-100.
May 17, 2025
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 73.
May 6, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 9, 2025
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 9, 2025
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Mar 26, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Mar 14, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Feb 13, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
May 19, 2025 House · vote #133 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 386–1 See who voted →
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What's happening now May 20, 2025

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek to enter an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to assess the forms that the VA sends to claimants. The center must submit a written assessment to the VA that includes recommendations on how the VA may make the forms clearer and more organized.

The VA must implement certain recommendations in the assessment within two years after the assessment is received.

 Hearings & markups 1
 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 9237 Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
  • S 4744 Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Lobbying activity 21

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

Bodies those filers lobbied

A filing lists the bills it worked on and the parts of government it contacted in separate sections, so these are the bodies those filers named anywhere in the filing, not a per-bill breakdown.

See all 21 filings →
 Cosponsors 18
All 18 Democratic 4 Republican 14
R
Fischbach, Michelle
Minnesota · May 6, 2025
 R
Williams, Roger
Texas · May 5, 2025
 R
Hill, J. French
Arkansas · Apr 28, 2025
 R
Obernolte, Jay
California · Apr 28, 2025
 D
Lee, Susie
Nevada · Mar 31, 2025
 R
Issa, Darrell
California · Mar 5, 2025
 R
De La Cruz, Monica
Texas · Mar 3, 2025
 R
Moore, Barry
Alabama · Mar 3, 2025
 R
Pfluger, August
Texas · Mar 3, 2025
 R
Stauber, Pete
Minnesota · Mar 3, 2025
 R
Thompson, Glenn
Pennsylvania · Mar 3, 2025
 R
Womack, Steve
Arkansas · Mar 3, 2025
 R
Meuser, Daniel
Pennsylvania · Feb 14, 2025
 R
Bost, Mike
Illinois · Feb 13, 2025
 D
Davis, Donald G.
North Carolina · Feb 13, 2025
 D
Harder, Josh
California · Feb 13, 2025
 D
Panetta, Jimmy
California · Feb 13, 2025
 R
Valadao, David G.
California · Feb 13, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1286: Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1286/
MLA
"H.R. 1286: Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1286/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1286, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1286/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1286: Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1286/)
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